Saturday, February 11, 2006

Reporters' Notebooks

Lance Pugmire and Ashley Powers, Los Angeles Times: The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has completed its investigation into a controversial shooting involving deputy Ivory Webb, a former receiver at Iowa.

Bruce Cadwallader, Columbus Dispatch: Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett was indicted on charges of aggravated robbery (subscription, so story is in comments).

1 comment:

Former Ohio State football player Maurice Clarett was indicted today on two counts of aggravated robbery and five other counts stemming from a Jan. 1 incident.

Clarett is accused of robbing two people at gunpoint early on the morning of Jan. 1 behind The Opium Lounge, 346 S. High St. The manager of the bar told Columbus police that she saw a confrontation in which Clarett demanded money and property. The manager identified Clarett by name before he fled in a white sport-utility vehicle, Columbus police have said.

Authorities are looking for two other men who might have been involved in the crime.

"Part of the delay with the indictment was attempts to identify those individuals," Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said in announcing the charges against Clarett today. "I can tell you that investigation continues and they will be identified."

Clarett, 22, of Youngstown, will be ordered to appear in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 24 to enter a plea and have bond set. He remains free on $50,000 bail that was set in Municipal Court on Jan. 4, the day after he turned himself in at the county jail.

The indictment filed today listed seven charges: two of aggravated robbery, two each of lesser robbery charges and one of carrying a concealed weapon.

If convicted of the toughest charges -- the two aggravated robbery ones, with specifications that a gun was used, and the concealed-carry count -- Clarett could be sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Clarett could not be reached today. His attorneys, William Settina and Robert Krapenc, both of Columbus, said he denies every allegation.

"Mr. Clarett and his family request your prayers at this most difficult time and ask that you reserve judgment," they said in a written statement.

Bar patrons Tywona Douglas and Lucas Nyarko told police Clarett approached them about 1:45 a.m. and appeared to be drunk or using drugs. He lifted his shirt and showed a handgun in his waistband, saying "I don't want to pop you."

Clarett helped lead Ohio State to a national championship in 2002 at the Fiesta Bowl.

He quit OSU and unsuccessfully sued the National Football League in his attempt to enter the 2004 draft. He eventually was drafted by the Denver Broncos but was released during training camp.

He was next rumored to be signing a contract to play football in the arena league or in Europe, but he was charged.